Demi Plie

Demi Plie ran a fine race to finish third in the three-mile rated novices’ chase. Padraig Roche’s mare travelled well for Aine O’Connor from early in second place behind Generator City. It looked like she was travelling best of all as they raced around the home turn towards the second last fence and, while she was a little long at that obstacle, she still travelled well on the run between the last two fences. She picked up in front at the final fence, but she was a little flat-footed on the landing side, which allowed Generator City, who was much faster away from the obstacle, up on the inside and, while she ran all the way to the line, she just couldn’t get back up.

It was still a good run from JP McManus’ mare. A winner over this trip at Listowel last month, they didn’t go a great gallop here, and it may be that she was just done for a turn of foot. She has had plenty of racing over hurdles, but she is only six and this was just her fifth run over fences. She is rated higher over fences already than over hurdles. The handicapper raised her by another 4lb for Tuesday’s run, to a mark of 127, but that was fair. She has the potential to go on improving now as a staying chaser, and she could do better too when she gets an even stiffer test of stamina than that presented by three miles at Cork on goodish ground.

Clonmel, 3^rd October 2019